"Hillary Has Been Talking About Issues Important to African-Americans for 40 Years, Bernie 40 Days"

The lies just don’t stop.

The man pictured above, South Carolina State Representative, Minority Leader, and Clinton Surrogate J. Todd Rutherford, today told MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts:

If you want to talk about those that have been involved in the process and those that have been involved in civil rights, all you have to do is look at the Clintons.

For her entire career, since she got out of law school, that’s what she did. We talked to Vernon Jordan last night, and he talked about . . . what they were doing, and this was back in the 60’s and early 70’s. This is not some Johnny-come-lately, as Bernie Sanders is.

Bernie Sanders has been talking about issues important to African-Americans for the past 40 days. Hillary Clinton has been doing it for the past 40 years.

Roberts’ comment afterward:

“I’m sure the Sanders camp will push back on a statement like that.”

I’m sure they will.

What I’m wondering is what response, if any, the Clinton camp will have on this. Is this another “Ha-ha-ha! Those silly surrogates! Ha-ha-ha!” moment? Or will she depart from habit and actually set the record straight? Or maybe she will double down.

Who knows? I will withhold prediction and just watch. Meanwhile, it’s been a few days since Bernie got any of my money; I guess this is a good time.

Roberts later spoke with the leader of the SC Dem Party, Jamie Harrison. Roberts started by asking Harrison if he agrees with Bill Clinton that Bernie supporters are like the Tea Party. Harrison sort of rambled a bit about how Bill loves politics, then said

“Right now it’s just a friendly contest between two friends.”

Roberts then challenged Harrison by repeating Rutherford’s comments about 40 years/40 days, asking,

“Do you really think that that is what friends would have surrogates say about other friends?”

Harrison said yes, it’s friendly, because at the end of this process, either Hillary or Bernie will  be the Democratic nominee, and the entire party will be behind them. He then went on to say,

I’d rather the friendly fire we have right now than the friendly fire that’s going on in the Republican party. That is World War III.

I agree there’s a difference in degree, but I’m not sure a conflict can be termed ‘friendly fire’ just because it isn’t thermonuclear warfare.